Cartridge for file cards

ABSTRACT

A filing system in which file cards are stored in a series of cartridges, each intended for a designated set of cards. One half of the set is received in a front compartment and the other half in a rear compartment of the cartridge. In order to facilitate purging of cards from a cartridge which are misfiled as to compartment, the base of the cartridge is provided with a lateral ridge extending across the front compartment at a longitudinal position matching a notch in the lower margin of the card, the position of the notch being indicative of a front compartment whereby cards lacking this notch are raised above this ridge for removal. Purging from the rear compartment is effected by another lateral ridge whose longitudinal position matches a notch indicative of the rear compartment. To facilitate purging of cards which are misfiled as to cartridge designation, the base is provided with at least one transverse ridge extending across both compartment at a selected position which matches a file card notch whose selected position is a function of designation, whereby a card lacking this notch is raised above the transverse ridge for removal. A card whose position is reversed will also be raised for removal, even though it is otherwise in the correct compartment and the correct cartridge.

United States Patent [191 Dorman et al.

[ Mar. 12, 1974 CARTRIDGE FORFILE CARDS [75] Inventors: lsidore Dorman, Whitestone; Mark OConnor, Freeport, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Bell & Howell Company, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Oct. 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 296,237

Primary ExaminerAllen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael Ebert ABSTRACT A filing system in which file cards are stored in a series of cartridges, each intended for a designated set of cards. One half of the set is received in a front compartment and the other half in a rear compartment of the cartridge. in order to facilitate purging of cards from a cartridge which are misfiled as to compartment, the base of the cartridge is provided with a lateral ridge extending across the front compartment at a longitudinal position matching a notch in the lower margin of the card, the position of the notch being indicative of a front compartment whereby cards lacking this notch are raised above this ridge for removal. Purging from the rear compartment is effected by another lateral ridge whose longitudinal position matches a notch indicative of the rear compartment. To facilitate purging of cards which are misfiled as to cartridge designation, the base is provided with at least one transverse ridge extending across both compartment at a selected position which matches a file card notch whose selected position is a function of designation, whereby a card lacking this notch is raised above the transverse ridge'for removal. A card whose position is reversed will also be raised for removal, even though it is otherwise in the correct compartment and the correct cartridge.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED HA8 1 2 I974 SHEET 1 BF 2 CARTRIDGE FOR FILE CARDS RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND or INVENTION This invention relates generally to card filing systems, and more particularly to a system in wich the file cards are housed 'in a series of compartmentalized cartridges, each intended for a designated set of cards.

The term card as used herein is intended generally to cover any type 'of filing element which may be stacked in boxes or in any other form of file receptacle, and it includes ordinary single-sheet file or tabulating cards, aperture cards in which a microfilm slide is mounted within a card aperture, micorfiches and microfiche jackets of the type disclosed in Engelstein U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,655. The term card is therefore intended to encompass anyexisting form of filing element formed by one or more sheets of paper, cardboard or plastic material or combinations thereof.

In the traditional, ordered card-filing system, the stacked cards are serially arranged in alphabetical, numerical or other order in accordance with an established classification system. When, in a system of the ordered type, a clerk wishes to consult a particular card, he goes to the appropriate file box or drawer and then proceeds to search for that card. If, for example, the card bears identification number 126 and should be found in a file box intended for cards 100 to 199, the clerk riffles through the cards in that box until he cates card 126. After use and in order to avoid misfiling, the clerk must be careful to return card 126 to its precise position in the proper file box. Any file card out of sequence in the proper file box or placed in the wrong file box is misfiled.

Thus, in a conventional, ordered file system, a significant amount of clerical time is consumed not only in searching for and finding a given card, but also in returning the card to its orderly position. Should the card be misfiled as a result of clerical error, the search to locte the misfiled card takes up even more time.

In order to effect economies in clerical operations, data-retrieval systems have been developed adapted to extract a desired card from a stack or deck of randomly stored cards. In existing data-retrieval systems the system is arranged to quickly and accurately select from a large number of cards lying in face-to-face contact in a file, a particular card corresponding to a code marking or other form of identification in a master file index. The cards in the file may be in any random order and, after being extracted from the file for inspection, reproduction or other use, the card may be returned to any position within the file and subsequently retrieved without difficulty.

in the above-identified copending applications, there is disclosed a random access system formed by cartridges for housing decks of file cards, a file selector making it possible to select any desired card from a cartridge regardless of its position therein. Instead of cards having a complex pattern of notches or apertures, as in many prior art random access systems, all that is entailed is a deck of cards, each of which has an upstanding tab at a longitudinal point determined by its index number.

In the filing system disclosed in these copending applications, the cartridges containing the decks of cards cooperate with a selector provided with a carriage settable along the linear track to any desired incremental point on a scale. Supported on the carriage is a tabengaging picker which is adapted to engage any tab in the deck whose position corresponds to the carriage setting, regardless of the transverse position of the tab I on the deck. When the picker is brought down over the deck of cards, any tab which lies in longitudinal registration with the selected scale point is engaged and gripped by the picker, and when the picker is thereafter lifted, the selected card is removed from the deck.

We shall now consider, by way of example, a practical random access system of the above type which is designed to have a maximum capacity of 100,000 file cards. For this purpose, the cards whose index numbers are 0 to 999,999 are divided into 1000 sets, each constituted by cards. Each set of cards is housed in a cartridge having a front compartment for receiving a deck of the first 50 cards and a rear compartment for receiving a deck of the next 50 cards in the set.

Thus the first cartridge in the series of 1000 thereof has cards 0 49 in the front compartment and 50 to 99 in the rear compartment, the cartridge being designated as the 000" set. The second cartridge has cards 100 to 149 in the front compartment and 150 to 199 in the rear compartment, this cartridge being designated the 001 set. The third cartridge designated the 002 set, contains card 200 to 299 and so on until we reach the last cartridge designed the 999 set.

If, therefore, one wishes a card whose index number is 2058, the operator calls for the 020 set cartridge and goes to the rear compartment to select from the deck of cards bearing numbers 2050 to 2099 the desired 2058 which is filed in random order therein. In

practice, the cards may be indexed be cartridge or tray designation (D) and set number (S). Thus the 2058th card in the system may-be indexed as D-0201S-58. Or to give another example, if one wishes a card whose index number is 90,304 or D-903:S-4, the operator calls for the 903 set and goes to the front compartment thereof to select the desired card.

With a filing system of the above-described type, the operation is 6ffiCI6l'1t and reliable only as long as the extracted file cards are returned to their designated cartridges and to the proper compartment therein, for then the card may again be extracted by the selector when a demand therefor arises. But if the card whose index number is D-020:S58 (2058) is returned to the front compartment of the 020 set cartridge rather than to the rear compartment where is belongs, it cannot be retrieved by the operator who, has no means of knowing where the desired card has been misfiled. However, if the operator assumes that the card has only been misfiled in the wrong compartment of the proper cartridge, the selector, when applied to the front compartment, will retrieve this card.

But if in misfiling, one places a card in the wrong cartridge, then it becomes much more difficult to locate the card. Thus if the 2058 card is returned to the rear compartment of, say the 320 set cartridge rather than the 020 set, where it belongs, the operator who is unable to extract this card from its proper 020 set cartridge has no idea where, among the 1,000 cartridges, the card is misfiled. While the selector mechanism disclosed in the above-identified application is capable of retrieving a randomly filed card from any card deck regardless of where the card lies in the deck, if the card is in the wrong cartridge, one must conduct a search through all cartridges until the misfiled card is located.

It is also possible to place a file card in its proper compartment and in its designated cartridge and yet misfile the card. This occurs when the card is placed in reverse position, that is with the back rather than the front of the card facing the front of the .cartridge. In that event, the orientation of the tab on thecard is displaced. For example, a card whose number in a deck of to 50 is 3 would normally have its tab adjacent the right end of the card, but if the card is put in backwards, the tab position is now adjacent the left end of the card and the tab will 'not be picked up by a selector set to the 3 position.

Hence, though in a random access filing system, no care need be exercised in returning a file card to its sequential position, there is still, in a system in which the cards are contained incompartmentalized cartridges, the possibility of misfiling with respect to (a) compartment, (b) cartridge and (c) card orientation.

9 SUMMARY OF INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is the main object of this invention to provide a filing system in which file cards are stored in a series of cartridges, each intended for a designated card set, the cartridges including ridges which cooperate with notches in the lower margin of the card to displace misfiled cards.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a cartridge structure for a system of the above type which serves to raise any card which is misfiled above the correctly filed cards to an extent facilitating removal of the misfiled card.

A significant feature of the invention is that the misfiled card is elevated to the level of an upstanding tab, so that the file card selector, which includes a picker for engaging the upstanding tab of a card in line therewith, will at the same time engage the margin of the misfiled card. Hence, even if the raised card is not perceived by an operator, it will automatically be ex-' tracted in the course of selecting a desired card from the cartridge, whereby a selector functions to purge the cartridge of misfiled cards.

As a consequence, the selector mechanism in the ordinary course of filing activities, functions to extract misfiled cards as well as desired cards so as to maintain the system in good operating order. While the operator of the random access system is expected to take care to return cards to their proper compartment and cartridge, any carelessness on the part of the operator in this regard gives rise to contamination of the system. But such contamination is 'not fatal, for the system is always in the state of being purified by its cooperating selector.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a removal arrangement for misfiled cards in cartridges having a front and rear compartment, whereby cards which are filed in the wrong compartment of the right cartridge or which are filed in the wrong cartridge, or

which are placed backwards, are displaced to facilitate removal thereof.

Still anotherv object of the invention is to provide a cartridge whose base includes permanent ridges which are associated with card notches to detect cards in the wrong compartment or which are reversed, and insertable ridges which may be pre-set for the particular cartridge to detect cards whose coded notches indicate that they belong in other cartridges.

One of the significant advantages of the invention is that by the use of three insertable ridges, each of which is selectively receivable in one of a series of 10 slo ts H having different longitudinal positions, it becomes possible to distinguish 1,000 cartridges from each other. By changing the number of ridges and slots, a greater or smaller number of designated cartridges may be coded.

Briefly stated, these objects are accomplished in a filing system whose file cards are stored in a series of cartridges, each of which is intended for a designated card set, one half of the set (i.e., 0 to 49) being accommodated in a front compartment and the other half (i.e., 50 to 99) in a rear compartment of the cartridge. The cards in the set have notches-formed in the lower margin thereofithe longitudinal positions of the notches being indicative of the cartridge designation and of the compartment therein.

The base of each cartridge is provided with a lateral ridge extending across the front compartment at a longitudinal position matching the card notch indicative of a front compartment, whereby cards lacking this notch are raised above the first ridge. The base also includes another lateral ridge extending across the rear compartment at a longitudinal position matching the card notch indicative of a rear compartment, whereby cards lacking this notch are raised above the second ridge for removal. I

The base is further provided with at least one transverse ridge extending across both compartments at a selected position that matches a coded file card notch whose position indicates the designated set, whereby a card lacking this notch is raised above the transverse ridge for removal. The transverse ridge is selectively insertable in any one of a series of equi-sp'aced slots formed along the banks of the base so that the ridge may be set to a position appropriate to the cartridge designation. A card which is placed backwards in a proper compartment of the designated cartridge will also be elevated by the ridges for then the card notches will be misaligned with the ridges.

OUTLINE or DRAWING For a better understanding of the invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, a cartridge according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a separate perspective view of the base of the cartridge in association with a single file card;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base;

FIG. 4 illustrates, in elevation, the relationship between the ridges in the base of the cartridge and a file card which is in the proper compartment of the proper cartridge.

-erator, for if the card is misfiled, it

FIG. 5 shows a card which is misfiled with respect to cartridge compartment;

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION For purposes of illustrating the invention, we shall now consider a cartridge designed to accommodate a set of I00 cards 11 of the microfiche jacket type disclosed in the above-identified Englestein patent, modified to function in the random-access system. Again, it is noted that the invention is usable with any form of card, but regardless of the type of card employed, it must be provided with tabs to permit selection thereof.

Cartridge 10, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 7, is an opentop, box-like structure, preferably made of highstrength plastic material, including front and rear walls 10a and 10b, and an intermediate wall 10c partitioning the interior into front and rear compartments F and R. The cartridge is provided with a protective cover 12 and a removable base 13 which fits snugly into the bottom of the housing. The set of 100 cards is divided into two decks of 50 cards, each, the first 50 cards being stored in the front compartment F and the second 50 cards in the rear compartment R.

Each card in the deck is provided at its upper margin with an upstanding tab T whose longitudinal position reflects its index number. Thus the card in the front deck having the lowest index number 0 has its tab directly adjacent the right end thereof and the card with the highest index number 49 has its tab directly adjacent the left end, cards having intermediate numbers having their tabs at respective incremental points between the left and right ends. Similarly, the cards in the rear deck have their tabs at longitudinal positions refleeting their index numbers 50 to 99.

The cards, which in the example shown, are in the form of milti-channel microfiche jackets, are formed by two transparent panels held together by parallel ribs which define channel spacings. In practice, the uppermost rib 14, as shown in FIG. 2, may be distinctly colored to indicate that the card belongs in a front or a rear compartment of the cartridge. Consequently, the operator, in returning a card to a cartridge, is guided by the color code and is less likely to misfile a card. But the system doesnot depend on the perception of the opwill be elevated for removal.

In the filing system, each cartridge is intended for a designated set of 100 cards, each set being composed of a front compartment deck of 50 cards and a rear compartment deck of 50 cards. The cards within the deck are in random order, for the selector associated with the cartridges is adapted to pick up a desired card regardless of its position in the deck. However, as noted previously, it is necessary that each card be filed in its designated cartridge and in the proper compartment therein, for otherwise the card cannot be retrieved by the selector.

If, therefore, there are 1,000 cartridges, each intended for a designated set of I00 cards (Cartridges D-OOO to D999), in order to ensure that each card is placed in its proper compartment and in its designated cartridge, the cards in accordance with the invention are provided at their lower margin with a compartment marking notch whose longitudinal position is indicative of the assigned compartment, and three coding notches whose longitudinal positions indicate the assigned cartridge.

Thus in the case of card 11, shown in FIG. 2, the notch N is the compartment marking notch and the notches N N and N are the coding notches for the designated compartment. These notches cooperate with ridges lying on the base 13 of the compartment, which ridges serve to indicate the compartment and the cartridge designation.

As shown in FIG. 3, a permanent ridge 15 extends laterally from the long bank 13A of the base across the front compartment F. A permanent ridge 16 extends laterally from the other long bank 138 of the base across the rear compartment R, the two ridges being at distinctly different longitudinal positions. If, therefore, a card has a marking notch N whose position matches that of ridge 15, the card belongs in the front compartment and, if its position matches that of ridge 16, the card belong in the rear compartment. If a card is misfiled as to compartment or is reversed, it will rest on top of the ridge.

For indicating cartridge designation, three insertable ridges 17, I8 and 19 are provided which may be set in transverse positions extending across both compartments in registration with the coding notches in the file cards. Ridge 17 is insertable in any complementary pair in a series of ten equi-spaced slots formed in opposing banks 13A and 13B adjacent the left end of the base. As shwn in FIG. 3, the slots pairs are identified by numbers 0 to 9, so that ridge 17 has a choice of ten positions of insertion.

Ridge 18 is insertable in any complementary pair of a second series of 10 equi-spaced slots formed in banks 13A and 138 in the central zone of the base. Ridge 19 is insertable in any complementary pair of a third series of IO equispaced slots formed in banks 13A and 13B adjacent the right end of the base.

Thus, with three insertable ridges, each of which may be set in any one of 10 positions, the range of settings runs from 000 to 999, so that there is a distinct ridge setting for each of a thousand cartridges having different designation. The coding notches N N and N are punched at longitudinal positions depending on the settings of the insertable ridges, so that one may provide a designated set of one hundred cards intended for a particular cartridge and no other.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is illustrated the relationship between a cartridge base 13 having a fixed ridge 15, indicative of compartment, and insertable ridges 17, I8 and I9 indicative of cartridge designation. In this instance, since the notches in card 11 match the ridges, the ridges and notches intermesh and the lower margin of the card rests on the base of the cartridge. Should the card be put in backwards, a mismatch will occur, and the card will rest on the ridges and be elevated relative to the properly placed cards.

But if as shown in FIG. 5, the cartridge has insertable ridges 17, 18 and 19 which are matched by coding notches N N and N.,, on the card, the card will nevertheless not rest on the base, for the compartment indicating notch N does not, in this instance, match fixed ridge 16. Hence the card margin rests on the ridge 16 and the card is raised as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, even if the card is in the right cartridge, it will be raised for removal if it is in the wrong compartment.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 6, when the card is in the right compartment as indicated by the match between card notch N and fixed ridge 15, the card will be raised because it is in the wrong cartridge, as indicated by the mismatch between notch N and insertable ridge 19.

In FIGS. 4, and 6, tab X is placed on the card 11 under consideration whereas tab Y is placed on another card which in each instance is properly filed. It will be seen that when the card 11 is properly filed, as in FIG. 4, tab X is at the same height as tab Y, whereas when card ll'is incorrectly filed, the upper margin of card I1 is in line with the peak of tab Y and tab X is elevated thereabove.

It will be appreciated that the same concept is applicable to a system including a smaller or a larger number of cartridges than the 1,000 cartridges given in the above-described embodiment. For example, by the use of only two insertable ridges, each having say possible settings, the range of settings is 100 (00 to 99), but if we provide twenty settings for each of two insertable ridges, then the range of settings if 400 (000 to 399). And if we provide four rather than three insertable ridges, each having 10 possible settings, then the range of settings is 10,000 (0000 to 9999).

The selector mechanism disclosed in the aboveidentified copending applications is provided with a picker adapted to extract those cards from a cartridge whose tabs are aligned with the settable picker. Since the misfiled cards in the cartridge are raised so that their upper margin is at the normal tab level, the picker will in the course of its operation also engage misfiled cards and present them to the operator. The operator will therefore receive from the picker the desired cards for which there is an existing demand and the misfiled cards, the latter being returned by the operator to their proper compartment and cartridge. Thus the selector acts in conjunction with the cartridges to continuously purge the filing system of misfiled cards and to thereby maintain the system in good working order at all times.

In manufacturing cartridges in accordance with the invention, all cartridges are identical. Yet each cartridge may be prepared to accept only cards of a designated set simplyby arranging the insertable ridges to conform to the designation. The bottom sidesv of the front and rear walls 10A and 10B of the cartridge are provided with shoulders to accommodate the banks 13A and 13B of thebase, so that when the base is fitted into the bottom of the cartridge, the insertable ridges which bridge the banks are locked into place by the shoulders and cannot be dislodged.

While there-have been shown and described preferred embodiments of a cartridge for file cards in accordance with the invention, it will be appreciated that many changes and modifications may be made therein without, however, departing from the essential spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a filing system wherein file cards are stored in a series of cartridges, each being intended for a designated set of cards, one'half of the set being received in a front compartment and the other half in a rear compartment of the cartridge, the cards in said set having compartment and cartridge making notches formed in the lower margin thereof, said cartridge being in the fonn of a box-like housing having a partition defining said front compartment and said rear compartment and a base common to both compartmentgsaid base comprising:

A. a first ridge extending across said front compart ment at a longitudinal position matching a first file card notch whose position indicates a front compartment whereby cards lacking said first notch are raised above the first ridge for removal;

B. a second ridge extending across said rear compartment at a longitudinal position matching a second file card notch whose position indicates a rear compartment, whereby cards lacking said second notch are raised above the second ridge for removal, and

C. at least one transverse ridge extending across both compartments at a selected position which matches a file card notch whose position indicates said designated set whereby a card lacking a notch at the code position is raised above the transverse ridge for removal.

2. In a system as set forth in claim 1. wherein said cards are provided with upstanding tabs to be engaged by a selector aligned therewith, misfiled cards being raised by said ridges to the level of said tabs for engagement by said selector mechanism whereby the selector also functions to purge the cartridge of misfiled cards.

3. In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse ridge selectively lies in any one of a series of equi-spaced slots formed in longitudinally extending banks along said base.

4. In a system as set forth in claim 3 wherein three transverse ridges are provided,each cooperating with a respective series of slots.

5. In a system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said banks in the base are received in shoulders formed in the front and rear walls of the cartridge to lock'in said transverse ridge.

6. In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cartridge is provided with a removable cover.

7. In a filing system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said file cards are constituted by microfiche jackets.

8. In a filing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top margin of the cards is color-coded to indicate the compartment assigned thereto.

9. In a filing system provided with file cards having upstanding tabs at predetermined longitudinal positions to be engaged and removed by a selector aligned therewith, anda cartridge for storing said cards, said cartridge having at its base at least one transverse ridge whose position registers with a notch formed in the lower margin of the cards, which notch has a position depending on the cartridge for which the cards are intended, whereby cards in the wrong cartridge are out of registration and rest on the ridge, said ridge elevating the misfiled card to the level of the tabs, whereby the selector engages and removes the misfiled card.

10. In a filing system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cartridge is divided into compartments each of which is provided with a base ridge whose position matches a notch formed in the lower margin of those cards which belong in that compartment, cards misfiled as to compartment being elevated to the level of the tabs.

Patent No. 3,796,310 Dated March 12, 1974 I I Inventor s Isidore Dorman and Mark O Connor It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Abstract, line 20 "partment" should have read o-, partments u Col. 1, line 6 "Randon" should have read Random line 7 "3,779,094" should have read 3,729,094 line 9 Y'Randon" should have read Random line 15 "wich" should have read which line 23 "micorfiches" should have read --microfiches line 49 "locte" should have read locate Col. 2, line 36 "designed" should have read designated line 42 "'be"; second. occurrence should read by CoL 5, line 48 "doesnot" should have read does not Col. 6,- line 31 "shwn" should have read shown line 31 "slots" should have read slot Col. 7, line 21 "if" shouldhave read i is Signed, and sealed this 17th day of September. 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON, JR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P59 

1. In a filing system wherein file cards are stored in a series of cartridges, each being intended for a designated set of cards, one half of the set being received in a front compartment and the other half in a rear compartment of the cartridge, the cards in said set having compartment and cartridge making notches formed in the lower margin thereof, said cartridge being in the form of a box-like housing having a partition defining said front compartment and said rear compartment and a base common to both compartments, said base comprising: A. a first ridge extending across said front compartment at a longitudinal position matching a first file card notch whose position indicates a front compartment whereby cards lacking said first notch are raised above the first ridge for removal; B. a second ridge extending across said rear compartment at a longitudinal position matching a second file card notch whose position indicates a rear compartment, whereby cards lacking said second notch are raised above the second ridge for removal, and C. at least one transverse ridge extending across both compartments at a selected position which matches a file card notch whose position indicates said designated set whereby a card lacking a notch at the code position is raised above the transverse ridge for removal.
 2. In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cards are provided with upstanding tabs to be engaged by a selector aligned therewith, misfiled cards being raised by said ridges to the level of said tabs for engagement by said selector mechanism whereby the selector also functions to purge the cartridge of misfiled cards.
 3. In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse ridge selectively lies in any one of a series of equi-spaced slots formed in longitudinally extending banks along said base.
 4. In a system as set forth in claim 3 wherein three transverse ridges are provided, each cooperating with a respective series of slots.
 5. In a system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said banks in the base are received in shoulders formed in the front and rear walls of the cartridge to lock in said transverse ridge.
 6. In a system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cartridge is provided with a removable cover.
 7. In a filing system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said file cards are constituted by microfiche jackets.
 8. In a filing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the top margin of the cards is color-coded to indicate the compartment assigned thereto.
 9. In a filing system provided with file cards having upstanding tabs at predetermined longitudinal positions to be engaged and removed by a selector aligned therewith, and a cartridge for storing said cards, said cartridge having at its base at least one transverse ridge whose position registers with a notch formed in the lower margin of the cards, which notch has a position depending on the cartridge for which the cards are intended, whereby cards in the wrong cartridge are out of registration and rest on the ridge, said ridge elevating the misfiled card to the level of the tabs, whereby the selector engages and removes the misfiled card.
 10. In a filing system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said cartridge is divided into compartments each of which is provided with a base ridge whose position matches a notch formed in the lower margin of those cards which belong in that compartment, cards misfiled as to compartment being elevated to the level of the tabs. 